Test Order
Instruction for the Written Assignment (200 pts): DUE DATE: Saturday, July 13 (11:59 p.m.)
This assignment is intended to introduce you to one or more useful website(s) that contains information connected with all four of Geography’s traditions. The assignment is also intended as an opportunity for practicing your critical thinking and writing skills.
Instructions:
1. Explore NASA’s Earth Observatory website at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov and The amount of time you should spend exploring the website is approximately one hour.
2. Select ONE of the Areas of Study in Geography or Tool/Technique of Geographic Analysis in geography that are described on pp. 17-18 in the textbook (Physical Systems, Human Systems, Location, and Environment), then read three complete articles on the website that fit the tradition that you have selected. After reading three complete stories in the tradition of Geography that you have chosen, you are ready to begin writing a 2-3 page report. Follow the format presented below CAREFULLY.
3. Your 2-3 page report must be written in essay style (i.e., Introduction, main arguments, and discussion/conclusion), and must include the following, to be considered for credit:
· Introduction: provide the name of the area of study or tool/technique that you have selected, and the names of the three articles that you chose which fit into that tradition, including author names.
· Main Arguments: Discuss each of the articles selected, describing at least three things that you learned from each article (Please do not just provide a laundry list: i.e., “the three things that I learned from this article are…)—integrate it seamlessly into your discussion of the article).
· Also, briefly explain why you think each article fits within the geographic tradition that you selected.
· Your overall opinion of the website that you selected the articles from, especially concerning its use as an educational tool.
4. Your report should be at least one-and-a-half pages in length, typed in 12 pt font, double or 1.5 spaced, and no longer than three pages.
5. If you want to qualify for the maximum points associated with this report, it must be turned in on or before the DUE DATE listed on the Course Schedule (last page of syllabus) and on the assignment. Assignments not turned in by this date will lose 5 points per day that they are late.
Points will be awarded for how well you address each of the four items listed in 4. A maximum of 50 points out of the total 200 points will also be awarded for the demonstration of good writing skills, including correct grammar, proper spelling and punctuation, and good organization (Please Note: The 50 points make up part of the 200 point total for the assignment—they are not additional points added on). Make use of your word processor’s spell and grammar checkers.
Please check the Grading Rubric for the Written Assignment under this folder to see how points are assigned for each grading category (i.e., grammar, organization, description of Orienting Theme and articles, etc.).
Maximum total points: 200
You are encouraged to send me an early draft to comment on (Please do so at least ONE WEEK before the due date). You are also encouraged to visit the Writing to Excellence Center in Drew Hall, Room 234, where there are tutors who can go over your paper’s organization and grammatical content with you, and advise you on how to improve it.
